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Franklin Holland
1963-2008
This was an instrumental quartet comprised of fellow school mates, with a heavy Hank Marvin - Shadows influence. Coming back to Venezuela in 1964 he immediately joined up with Venezuelan musicians, forming Egmond Stars and jamming with Maracaibo's teen musicians. His first amateur TV appearance came in 1964 in Curacao with Cesar Sanchez Bello whom he had met the day before at the airport. He then founded the Caracas group Barrenderos, Influences were mostly British pop bands, especially the Hollies. The Holidays were impeccably rehearsed, practiced at Rurik's house in Las Palmas, and then performed in the Ritmo y Juventud Canal 4 studios across the street. Athough living in a different era, about this time Franklin also starts to be overwhelmed by the talent and technique of the old masters, and acknowledges an eternal debt of gratitude to the influence of Bach, Corelli and especially Handel. Franklin recorded his first original compositions
on this album, and for reasons of reduced available
space on the album label for author credits, and the
length of his last name, he changed his artistic
name to Franklin Holland. ![]() Above,
Rurik, Froggie, Francisco, Franklin, Wolfgang: the
Holidays in Barcelona, Spain, and left, the schedule
for the famous San Carlos Club, September 1966.
FIRST Rock group from South America to play Europe!
![]() When Froggie leaves for his native France, Franklin regroups Fresh Holidays with Randy Cottin (drums) and Chuchu Diaz (bass). Chuchu was replaced by former Jensen lead guitarist Ruben Dubuc, but on bass. Franklin also became the musical co director with Claudio Torres of Viva la Gente (Up with People, Adelante Juventud), a 150 member singing group funded by the private industry. He wrote a complete new 20 piece, 4 voice repertoire, and recorded an album with them (1968). With Domingo Guzman (Drums) and Ruben Dubuc he formed Wall, with the idea of
writing a rock opera, and with
ex-Tse Mud
Gustavo
Calle (drums) and Ruben he formed 'Supergrupo' in 1969, a very heavy,
improvisational trio. A few years later
('73) Gustavo, Franklin and Ruben attempted to
form another SuperGrupo, but in Boston, where
Gustavo attended Berklee.
Supergrupo was the first attraction at
Venezuela's first large rock concert (Merida,
1970). When it was time for their appearance,
the drummer was not to be found (he actually was
found later in the mountains at night with a
collection of 'radioactive' mushrooms, mumbling
about Mandala's, only to be lost again).
Therefore Wall drummer Domingo Guzman, who was
present by chance, filled in and improvised the
whole program, which was relatively easy since
the program was completely improvised to start
with (still owe you a thank you, D!).
It was the only group to our knowledge that
would completely create new songs, arrangements
and
lyrics on the fly while in concert, always
trying to present a fresh creative experience or
'happening' to their audience.
Wall Left to Right:
Ruben Dubuc, Bass/Vocals. Domingo Guzman,
Drums.
FranklinHolland, Guitar/Vocals.
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During this period he also toured in Louisiana 1972 through 1973 with the pop band John Fred & the Playboys, who on previous years had the world hit 'Judy in Disguise'. Franklin was not yet a band member at that time. In the time he participated, he was influential in driving the band more towards the blues end of things.
This was followed
by San Antonio Blues in Texas (1973). In
1973 Franklin moved to Boston, and rented a
house together with Gustavo Calle and Ruben Dubuc, in an
attempt at re-launching Supergrupo in Boston .
This was folllowed by a semi-acoustic duo with
singer/comedian Chance Langton on the Martin
Acoustic and Franklin on the Firebird Electric,
playing mostly New England folk music clubs
(1974-77).
Before The Franklin Holland project he would
also typically play as a guest player ,as
illustrated in the above billboard.
Below: Rurik, Cesar della Nocce, Franklin
(with Sandro Liberatoscuolli, 'el grupo Sorpresa')
, intended for
the 'Caribe' and perhaps the US, including a
contribution from the amazing
Otmaro Ruiz. This was his first
solo vs. band concept.![]() 1987-1993: USA Returning to the US in 1987, Franklin only briefly performed with blues musicians (Tobacco Road and other appearances, 1987) . He moved from Miami to
Detroit with few musical encounters. He moves back
to Florida, and attempts to set up a musical
production company with Otmaro Ruiz.![]() Alvin Stone joins in June as a vocalist/keyboard player, 2002, Jose 'Patuo' on bass, with percussion, drums and keyboards to follow. Franklin's also invites his nephew The acoustic core will be used for the middle of the sets, with the inner and outer songs performed electrically.
In 2006, Franklin starts up the next project, after an intense revision of musical values and intention and is trying to synthesize 44 years of writing and interpretation, playing most or all instruments. He hopes to mix the old and new in a different manner, and bring the project To Xanadu to market in 2007. ![]() ![]()
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Bands & Groups: |
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Albums & Recordings All these albums contain original F. Holland material Recorded - Blues & Rock Style 1965 Sounds of the Holidays LP Album - 4 songs 1966 Un Toque Sicodelico LP Album - 5 songs 1966 Holidays Spain EP - 4 songs 1968 Viva La Gente LP Album - 2 songs 1970 Wall - 1 song 1984 Proyecto Franklin Holland Kandra - 3 songs 1985 Proyecto Franklin Holland Sonografica LP Album - 9 songs 1985 Sonografica El Talento Nacional LP Album - 1 song 1986 Halley's Mandala Kandra 1" tape - 10 songs 1993 9 original Jingles with Otmaro Ruiz - DAT 1993 Holland & Jove - DAT 8 songs 2001 Holland & Serra - 1 song 2002 Franklin Holland Project - Demo CD 10 songs 2006 Franklin Holland Project - Xanadu - Demo CD 8 songs And approximately 400 non-published songs and pieces, Adelante Juventud - complete new choral repertoire 1968 ( 18 songs) 1965 Sounds of the Holidays (Album) Discomoda Venezuela |
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LOS HOLIDAYS |
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1966 Un Toque Psicodelico Discomoda (Album) Venezuela |
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LOS HOLIDAYS UN TOQUE SICODELICO 1967 Bass:Jean-Louis Ajzenberg (Froggie) Drums:Rurik Grassi Vocals: Franklin Holland, Froggie Guitars: Franklin Holland DISCOMODA CARACAS |
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1966 Holidays Spain 45 RCA (4 song, not released) Spain 1968 Viva la Gente (Adelante Juventud Album) Venezuela |
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ADELANTE JUVENTUD
1968 |
2008: Franklin goes Solo.![]() |
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1970 Wall Discomoda (2 single, not released) Venezuela 1976 Chance & Franklyn Newton (4 single, not released) Boston USA 1984 Kandra (into Sonografica Album) Venezuela 1985 Al Publico Sonografica (Spanish Album) Venezuela |
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PROYECTO FRANKLIN
HOLLAND AL PUBLICO 1985 Bass:Victor Fiol Drums:Pedro Rodriguez, Gerardo Ubieda, Enrique Santana Vocals: Franklin Holland Guitars: Franklin, Rodolfo Serra Hammond: Ilan Chester SONOGRAFICA CARACAS |
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1985 Proyecto Franklin Holland (compilation of Sonografica artists) |
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EL TALENTO
NACIONAL 1985 PROYECTO FRANKLIN HOLLAND RECOPILACION SONOGRAFICA CARACAS |
New CD dedicated to Songwriting, Guitar, and Vocals.
1-Sunday Morning |
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1986 Halley's Mandala (10 song English album, not released) |
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HALLEY'S MANDALA
1986 FRANKLIN HOLLAND KANDRA CARACAS |
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1993 Holland & Jove, This is it! private (2 single, not released) 2002 Franklin Holland Project demo CD 'Here and Now' 2006 Franklin Holland Project demo CD Xanadu |
Sample Collaborations with other artists: |
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FRANKLIN
HOLLAND PROJECT XANADU 2006 |
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